Almotamar Net - More than 2000 charities and civil groups have been suspended for contravening the law, Ali Saleh Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, has said.

The Deputy Minister said official reports had been submitted to governorate mayors demanding local authorities close the organizations.

Many of the organizations are reported to not even exist or operate under false names, while some have refused to reveal the donors who fund their activities. Others are said to be run by individuals for personal gain, while some have not held annual elections for five years.

Abdullah demanded that all organizations reveal their sources of funding and the beneficiaries of their activities. He said the ministry had acted against the groups after not responding to warnings. The organizations will now be struck off the ministry�s register and prevented from continuing their work. Approximately 1500 organizations have been suspended in the capital secretariat, Aden, and Mukalla.

Yahya Al-Sha�abi, the Governor of Aden, has also suspended 500 organizations he said were breaking the law. More closures are expected as ministry teams continue investigations into organizations� activities. Several organizations based in Taiz and Al-Hodeidah are also expected to be shut down.

Some political parties have been accused of using charitable organizations to illegally promote their party. This has resulted in the suspension of 20 organizations allegedly following Badruddeen Al-Houthi.

The ministry recently suspended an organization running social projects, funded by an unknown Italian organization, without permission from the ministry.

Source: Yemen times